N01446:122
A guide to Christ. Or, The way of directing souls that are under the…
A guide to Christ. Or, The way of directing souls that are under the work of conversion. Compiled for the help of young ministers: and may be serviceable to private Christians, who are enquiring the way to Zion. / By Solomon Stoddard, A.M. and Pastor of the church in Northampton. ; With an epistle prefixed, by the Reverend Dr. Increase Mather.
Boston: printed by J. Allen for N. Boone, 1714
Directions How to guide Souls through the Work of Conversion.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
That the believing here spoken of, is the receiving of it as certain upon the testimony of God. Many men have a common persuasion that Christ is the Son of God from tradition, and from his Miracles, which is in a more general ⟨p. 31⟩acceptation called believing. Joh. 2.23. and yet they are not born of God: but more properly they are said to believe it, who receive it, upon God's testimony; and those men who have only a common persuasion, are indeed Unbelievers; they that have not Grace, don't properly believe the Word of God.
That the believing here spoken of, is the receiving of it as certain upon the testimony of God. Many men have a common perswasion that Christ is the Son of God from tradition, and from his Miracles, which is in a more general ⟨p. 31⟩acceptation called believing. Joh. 2.23. and yet they are not born of God: but more properly they are said to believe it, who receive it, upon God's testimony; and those men who have only a common perswasion, are indeed Unbelievers; they that have not Grace, don't properly believe the Word of God.
ANOTHER Scripture that he takes notice of to strengthen his confidence, is, Mat. 5.6. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after Righteousness; his Conscience testifies that he does so, therefore he hopes he is blessed. In this Case he may be told,